Lewis Hamilton contract: Mercedes deal ‘confirmed’ in response to 2021 quit threats

Sports Personality of the Year: Lewis Hamilton receives award

Mercedes have no concern about Lewis Hamilton quitting F1 this year with his new contracted already ‘confirmed’. Talks have been ongoing between Mercedes and Hamilton over a new deal since the end of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last month.

Negotiations have mainly taken place via zoom calls though with Toto Wolff admitting that there have been arguments.

“We don’t make life easy for them, of course, when we both argue over Zoom and keep sending curveballs to the lawyers,” said Wolff.

The fact that Hamilton still hasn’t signed a deal with Mercedes with the new season fast approaching has led to some concerns that the seven-time world champion could walk away from the sport altogether.

But Formula1News reports that Mercedes are adamant that their 2021 driver line-up with be the same as last year.

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“Any suggestion that Lewis won’t be with us this year is simply fake news. Plain and simple,” Formula1News.co.uk were told.

“There is no reason he and Valtteri won’t be driving our cars in 2021. You can consider it confirmed.”

Wolff has set a deadline for a deal to signed by “Bahrain at the latest” and remains confident an agreement will be reached.

“He’s in America now and I’m here. At some point we will finalise it (the deal),” he said.

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“We have a really solid basis in our relationship. We have celebrated great successes together and want to continue doing so in the future.

“But sometimes you have to talk things out in detail, and that took or still takes us some time.”

Hamilton has the opportunity to claim the out-right record for all-time F1 World Championship victories this year.

The 36-year-old equalled Michael Schumacher’s tally of seven world titles last year in style as he once again dominated.

Since joining Mercedes in 2013, Hamilton has established himself as one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time.

His rivals have downplayed Hamilton’s achievements due to Mercedes’ dominance over the rest of the pack.

And Jan Lammers believes that the British racing superstar is “disadvantaged” by having the best car on the grid.

“His disadvantage is that he has been driving the best car for years, so the viewer has a somewhat distorted view when you talk about his talent,” he told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.

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